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Friday, February 25, 2011

My Challenge to Genealogists: It's Time to Get Hip

The librarians have done it. The knitters have done it. Now it's time for the genealogists to do it.

I was just reading James Tanner's blogpost "Who do they think we are?" In it, he explains why people give blank stares when someone tells them they are a genealogist. He says, "Part of the reason, I am sure for the reaction to genealogy stems from the common viewpoint that the whole subject is the purview of slightly (or more than slightly) balmy older people who have failed at shuffleboard."

I know! We can deliver our findings in rap form!! Come on now, everybody get into it - start bopping your head and making the noises... play along... We could even hire Eminem and JayZ impersonators to deliver the news!

Just got done with your tree and now who did I see?Found some secrets gonna blow your fam out to the seaThere's a thing called a census, found a Boyle, first name ClareBorn in eighteen hundred eighty in a place called Kildare

U thought your great-great-grandma only had four?Got news for ya, sistah - she had a few moreThe baby daddy's name is Theodore LesterBet ya never knew about Theresa and Esther!

They landed at the "Island" back about '23Moved on to South Boston, lived on Broadway by the TTheir crib - it was small - they lived on the third floorPaid about a sawbuck for 3 rooms - maybe four

Made his money tanning hides down in Newmarket SquareShe spent hours cleaning house for those rich folks O'HareShe died in 37, he passed on in 58She had a heart attack, looks like he had too much weight!